Interactive translation system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system that utilize a collection of predefined core sentences in a source language, that may be initially accessed through a thematic hierarchy or through key words. New sentences may be recursively elaborated through transformations of a selected core sentence, that comprise substitution and expansion. In accordance With the present invention, the method and system automatically handle syntactic modifications of an interlingual structure, that are implied by a selected transformation. Each transformation establishes a valid new sentence in the source language. The method and system further generate a corresponding translation into any available target language.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An interactive method of generating an expression in a target language, said method comprising: 
       providing a source expression in a source language, said source expression comprising at least one item and having a corresponding interlingual representation;  
       outputting said source expression to a user;  
       in response to receiving a transformation instruction from said user;  
       transforming said source expression in accordance with said transformation instruction; and  
       outputting said transformed source expression to said user, wherein said user can choose to modify said transformed source expression;  
       generating a corresponding interlingual representation of said transformed source expression;  
       generating, from said corresponding interlingual representation of said transformed source expression, a target expression in said target interlingual; and  
       outputting said target expression.  
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       in response to receiving a selection instruction from said user, selecting an item in said source expression.  
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said step of transforming comprises one of: 
       substituting said selected item with a substitution; and  
       expanding said selected item with an expansion.  
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       providing a list of one of substitutions and expansions; and  
       in response to receiving a list selection from said user, selecting said one of substitution and expansion from said list.  
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said steps of outputting an expression comprises one of displaying the expression and reading the expression. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       providing a plurality of languages; and  
       in response to receiving a language selection from said user, selecting said target language from said plurality of languages.  
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       providing a plurality of source expressions in said source language.  
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       in response to receiving a key item from said user, generating, from said plurality of source expressions, a list of source expressions related to said key item;  
       outputting said list of source expressions; and  
       in response to receiving an expression selection from said user, selecting, from said list of source expressions, said source expression to be provided.  
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising: 
       arranging said plurality of source expressions into a thematic hierarchy;  
       outputting said plurality of source expressions in accordance with said thematic hierarchy; and  
       in response to receiving an expression selection from said user, selecting, from said plurality of source expressions, said source expression to be provided.  
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       associating at least one instruction with an iconic representation; and  
       displaying said iconic representation.  
     
     
       11. A system for interactively generating an expression in a target language, said system comprising: 
       means for providing a source expression in a source language, said source expression comprising at least one item and having a corresponding interlingual representation;  
       means for outputting said source expression to a user;  
       means for, in response to receiving a transformation instruction from said user;  
       transforming said source expression in accordance with said transformation instruction, and  
       outputting said transformed source expression to said user, wherein said user can choose to modify said transformed source expression;  
       means for generating a corresponding interlingual representation of said transformed source expression;  
       means for generating, from said corresponding interlingual representation of said transformed source expression, a target expression in said target language; and  
       means for outputting said target expression.  
     
     
       12. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
       means for, in response to receiving a selection instruction from said user, selecting an item in said source expression.  
     
     
       13. The system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said item is selected in response to said user clicking on said item. 
     
     
       14. The system as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said means for transforming comprises one of: 
       means for substituting said selected item with a substitution; and  
       means for expanding said selected item with an expansion.  
     
     
       15. The system as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
       means for providing a list of one of substitutions and expansions; and  
       means for, in response to receiving a list selection from said user, selecting said one of substitution and expansion from said list.  
     
     
       16. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
       means for, in response to receiving a repetition instruction from said user, causing said means for transforming and outputting said transformed source expression to repeat said transforming and outputting, respectively.  
     
     
       17. The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said means for outputting an expression comprises one of means for displaying the expression and means for reading the expression. 
     
     
       18. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
       means for providing a plurality of languages; and  
       means for, in response to receiving a language selection from said user, selecting said target language from said plurality of languages.  
     
     
       19. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: means for providing a plurality of source expressions in said source language. 
     
     
       20. The system as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
       means for, in response to receiving a key item from said user, generating, from said plurality of source expressions, a list of source expressions related to said key item;  
       means for outputting said list of source expressions; and  
       means for, in response to receiving an expression selection from said user, selecting, from said list of source expressions, said source expression to be provided.  
     
     
       21. The system as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
       means for arranging said plurality of source expressions into a thematic hierarchy;  
       means for outputting said plurality of source expressions in accordance with said thematic hierarchy; and  
       means for, in response to receiving an expression selection from said user, selecting, from said plurality of source expressions, said source expression to be provided.  
     
     
       22. The system as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
       means for associating at least one instruction with an iconic representation; and  
       means for displaying said iconic representation.  
     
     
       23. The system as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the system is comprised in a pocket-sized hand-held device.